[FILM REVIEW] WEAPONS Review
Summary: When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.
Year: 2025
Cinema Release Dates: 7th August 2025 (Australia), 7th August 2025 (Thailand), 8th August 2025 (UK), 8th August 2025 (USA)
VOD Release Dates: TBA
Country: USA
Director: Zach Cregger
Screenwriter: Zach Cregger
Cast: Austin Abrams (Anthony), Josh Brolin (Archer Graff), Cary Christopher (Alex Lilly), Kaidence Conlan (Mason Thompson), Alden Ehrenreich (Paul), Clayton Farris (Terry), Julia Garner (Justine Gandy), Carrie Gibson (Marge), Toby Huss (Captain Ed), Khyler Liggins (Madelyn McNulty), Justin Long, Amy Madigan (Gladys Lilly), Melissa Ponzio, June Diane Raphael, Callie Schuttera (Mrs. Lilly), Scarlett Sher (Narrator), Khalani Simon-Barrow (Elena Martinez), Luke Speakman (Matthew Graff), Whitmer Thomas (Mr. Lilly), Benedict Wong (Andrew)
Running Time: 128 minutes
Classification: MA15+ (Australia), 18 (Thailand), 18 (UK), R (USA)
OUR WEAPONS REVIEWS
Kyle McGrath‘s Weapons Review
About a month ago in the dead of night at exactly 2:17am the unexplainable happened. Every child from Mrs Gandy’s 3rd grade class (all but but one) woke up in the middle of the night, got out of bed, went downstairs, opened the front door and naruto-ran into the darkness. None of them ever came back.
In the aftermath and confusion nobody knew what had happened or what was responsible. Was it a mass hysteria? Some sort of abuse or brainwashing? There were no answers. Suspicion fell on the 17 students’ teacher, Justine Gandy (Julia Garner), why was it only her students? Suspicion fell on Alex (Cary Christopher) the only student not to disappear must know something but he claimed to have no idea. The school had to reopen eventually but the mystery went on.
As did the trauma for 17 sets of parents left wondering where the hell their children were. Parents like Archer Graff (Josh Brolin) whose usually tough veneer has given way to panic. The police don’t seem to be making any progress and life for everyone else in town goes on. But those involved in this mystery all have their own stories to tell…
From the writer-director of Barbarian (2022) Zach Cregger comes his next suburban horror mystery. Barbarian was a surprise hit from the former cast member and writer of comedy troupe ‘The Whitest Kids You Know’. Cregger, like Jordan Peele, channelled that comedic talent in a different way with one of the most creative and shocking horrors of the last several years. Leading to a fierce bidding war over ‘Weapons’, his next and much more ambitious project.
Much like Barbarian before it Weapons is a movie best experienced with as little foreknowledge as possible and going in totally blind. I didn’t even want to see a trailer for the film knowing that even seeing the principle cast list was enough to spoil some of Barbarian’s surprises. Weapons is not quite this extreme yet you’ll have no idea where the story will go.
Cregger expands on his multiple perspective storytelling with the plot coming from many protagonists. Each one holding their own piece of the interconnected mystery pie. Yet with Cregger’s great character writing you’ll find yourself being so caught up in individual’s complicated lives that you may even totally forget about the whole missing children thing!
Performances are solid throughout with Garner and Brolin having the lion’s share of the focus. Alden Ehrenreich continues to show that 2018’s ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ WASN’T his fault, with a particularly conflicted character. This is becoming a highlight of Cregger’s writing in that positive characters will have negative traits and vice versa. Conflicted emotions spring up as you’ll find yourself hating the selfishness of the ‘hero’ or pitying the ‘villain’ in a world painted in shades of grey. Special mention must also go to Amy Madigan in a role you need to see to believe!
Storylines broach subjects of addiction, infidelity and police brutality just to mention a few. The film’s unconventional narrative structure and 128 minute runtime may have audiences checking watches from time to time but it is never boring. Every plot is engaging and you’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole film. Much like Stephen King, Zach Cregger explores the everyday horrors of suburban life as well as the more inhuman.
He most definitely leans heavy on the jump scares with some of them being a little easier to see coming than others. But Cregger is an expert in generating that feeling of tension and unease which make them all so effective. There’s blood and gore on display but the film doesn’t rely on this and is all the better for it.
Credit where it is due for being such an effective psychological horror as there are still plenty of laughs to be had here. The screenplay is written by someone who understands horror film tropes and respects that the audience does as well. It’s a self aware film and plays up on this with humour but it never takes away from the legitimate attempts to scare the audience. Not being stone-faced serious helps as well when there are admittedly some stray threads to the story which threaten to unravel the plot if thought about too much.
But what enjoyable horror film is completely without these little gaps in logic? The point is that Zach Cregger has created another audience pleasing, spine chilling, totally bonkers and unique experience in cinematic frights. It will leave you guessing right up to its cathartic finale and one you’ll want to share with friends. Just promise #nospoilers!
Kyle’s rating Out Of 5
David Griffiths‘ Weapons Review
David’s rating Out Of 5
Average Subculture rating Out Of 5
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Trailer: